National Security This Week

Jon discusses the tumultuous political past and present of the Balkans region with retired Foreign Service Officer Alan Carlson.

Host Jon Olson talks with retired Foreign Service Officer Mark Canning, and retired CIA officer David Sauer about the increasing tensions over Taiwan.

Host Jon Olson talks with Dr. Stephen Walt from Harvard’s Kennedy School and Dr. Ron Krebs from the University of Minnesota. They discuss whether or not America should have a grand strategy.

Host Jon Olson and Dr. David Cooper from the US Naval War College discuss nuclear deterrence and nuclear treaties for a modern era.

Host Jon Olson talks with Juan Zarate who is the former deputy national security advisor for combating terrorism during the George W. Bush administration.

Host Jon Olson talks with retired US Army Colonel Steve Miska about bringing interpreters who have served American forces in combat zones to safety.

Host Jon Olson discusses the role of the defense attaché offices in American embassies around the world, and the role of Foreign Area Officers with his guests US Air Force Colonel Brett Seiling and US Navy Commander Andrew Kotila.

Host Jon Olson talks with Jonah Simonds, Nicole Nipper, and Micalie Hunt, who earned undergraduate degrees in International Relations, about how their choice of major in college has impacted their professional lives.

Host Jon Olson discusses Poland’s critical role in European affairs with Dr. Mary Curtin from the Humphrey School of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota.

Host Jon Olson talks with retired US Air Force Major General Rick Devereaux and retired US Air Force Major Bruce Morlan about the nexus of climate change and US national security. This episode originally aired on November 3rd 2021. 

Host Jon Olson talks with LTG Robert Ashley, US Army (Retired), the former Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency. They discuss the US Intelligence Community’s role in supporting American national security. This episode originally aired on October 27th 2021. 

Host Jon Olson talks with Professor Ron Krebs from the University of Minnesota about civil/military relations and the importance of those relations on American national security. This episode originally aired on Oct. 10th 2021. 

Host Jon Olson talks with Dr. Fiona Hill and they discuss both Vladimir Putin and Russia, and her new book, There is Nothing for You Here: Opportunity in the 21st Century , which launched on October 6th, 2021. This episode originally aired on Oct. 13th 2021. 

Host Jon Olson talks with retired US Navy Rear Admiral Danelle Barrett about her time as Director of Operations at US Cyber Command. They tap into her expertise in cyber security. This episode originally aired on Oct. 6th 2021

Host Jon Olson talks with Professor Michael Goldman from the University of Minnesota. They focus on India on this show, covering politics, economics, and defense issues. This episode originally aired on Sept. 29th 2021. 

Host Jon Olson talks with Carleton College Professor Devashree Gupta, an expert on Western European affairs, about the United Kingdom, Ireland, Brexit, and related security issues. This episode originally aired on Sept. 22nd 2021. 

Host Jon Olson talks with retired US Army Lieutenant General Joseph DiSalvo, the former Deputy Commander of U.S. Southern Command. They discuss the current state of affairs for SOUTHCOM, regional challenges, and opportunities in the region in support of American national security interests. This episode originally aired on Sept. 15th 2021. 

Host Jon Olson talks with Mark Shaw, Director of the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime, about how his organization is working end international criminal enterprises. This episode originally aired on Sept. 8th 2021. 

Host Jon Olson talks with Chip Laingen, Executive Director of the Defense Alliance, a collaboration of Upper Midwest businesses in the defense and national high technology industries. This episode originally aired on September 1st 2021. 

Host Jon Olson talks with University of Minnesota Professor Mark Bell. They continue their discussion on advanced nuclear delivery capabilities and their impact on nuclear deterrence. This originally aired on August 15th 2021. 

This week, host Jon Olson discusses the events of the past week in Afghanistan with with retired State Department Foreign Service Officers Tom Hanson and Bill Davnie. This episode originally aired on August 18th 2021. 

Host Jon Olson talks with Professor Federico Varese from Oxford University in the United Kingdom about the national security ramifications of transnational organized crime syndicates. This episode originally aired on August 11th 2021. 

Host Jon Olson talks with noted crime thriller author and former CIA intelligence officer Carmen Amato about intelligence operations, the Western hemisphere, and her crime thriller novels. This episode originally aired on August 4th 2021. 

Host Jon Olson talks with retired CIA case officer David Sauer about Human Intelligence (HUMINT) operations. This episode originally aired on July 28th 2021. 

Host Jon Olson talks with Dr. Michael Osterholm about the national security implications of infectious diseases. This episode originally aired on July 21st 2021.